The biggest benefit of having an early scrimmage is getting to iron out all the kinks that come from it. After getting a live look last week at Forrest, new Warren County High School football coach Scott Smith came into the second week of spring practice with new places to focus.
Smith quickly established tackling and offensive execution were two areas where the Pioneers will need improvement before next season.
“Going into this week, we wanted to execute our offense better and to tackle better on defense. Our biggest problem in the scrimmage was not taking proper care of the ball as we fumbled several times. Defensively, we did not play as physical as we wanted,” said Smith. “We want to set an expectation of getting a little bit better each day and to really focus on doing the little things well.”
In Friday’s scrimmage against Forrest, the Pioneers were able to pile up yardage on offense while leaning on their rushing attack. Bryson Lewis, Tristan Reish, Rickie King and Jordan Bonner all found open lanes to run as Warren County piled up 259 yards on the ground.
Coach Smith also got a look at all three of his quarterbacks – Christian Wilkinson, Hunter Gudat and King – during the scrimmage. In limited attempts, Warren County threw for 47 yards.
The Pioneers will get another chance to make strides in scrimmages when the team travels to play Page Monday, May 5. The scrimmage was originally scheduled for Friday. Warren County will also end spring practice with a Blue and White scrimmage next Thursday, May 8 at home.
Next week’s scrimmage at Page will be a chance for the Pioneers to prove their mettle against a quality opponent.
“As physical as Forrest was, Page is a bigger school with many more players,” said Smith. “We are a 6A school and we have to start playing up to that level.”
Leading up to next week’s scrimmage, Smith wants to see his team embrace the pace and tempo he and his staff are striving for in each workout.
“One of our biggest goals as a coaching staff is to try and establish a certain tempo and practice habits that we want to carry through the summer and fall,” said Smith. “We are trying to emphasize being at practice on time, hustling through each drill and finishing everything we do. Before you can be a good football player, you have to commit to being at practice and being a good teammate.”
The Pioneers will finish up the second week of spring practice this afternoon with a practice at Warren County High School.